The bodies of two missing men were yesterday found tied together in plastic sheeting on an island.

Gardai will now launch a murder probe after the remains of Eoin O’Connor, 32, and 33-year-old Anthony Keegan were discovered on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin,Co Meath.

The Irish Mirror can reveal the pair were found in undergrowth by officers at around 4.30pm.

The scene on Inchicup island, Lough Sheelan

Mr O’Connor and Mr Keegan travelled to Co Cavan on April 22 to collect a €15,000 drug debt from a low-level dealer.

However, their families became concerned when the men stopped answering their phones that day.

Eoin’s devastated brother Ruairi last night told the Irish Mirror they were just waiting on full confirmation.

He said: “We just got wind of it so we have headed up to the scene. This has been a very difficult month. We just want to see what happens now.

“We are happy that we are getting them home but that’s all we are happy about. We need to find out what happened to them because this is an injustice.

“And we will leave no stone unturned to find out what happened.”

Gardai were able to identify the decomposed remains from the clothing the men were wearing on the night they vanished.

The scene was immediately sealed off and the office of the State Pathologist was contacted. A preliminary examination is expected to take place this morning.

Gardai at the scene on Church Island on Lough Sheelin,Co Meath.

A source said there was no immediate indication as to how the men died but officers suspect the pair were shot and dumped on the island.

A boat, seized from lands owned by a brother of garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, has been examined by detectives.

Officers had previously been given permission by local businessman Declan McCabe to search Sheelin Cottage, its two cattle sheds and a boat shed.

Mr McCabe, who owns land close to the lake – a popular fishing spot – is not suspected of any involvement in the incident.

Dad-of-two Mr O’Connor and Mr Keegan travelled from O’Connor’s home on Kilbarron Drive on the evening of April 22.

It’s understood they went on to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, but Ruairi told the Irish Mirror the pair stopped answering calls at around 9pm. Some of Mr O’Connor’s family travelled to Cavan that night in a bid to find the men and an official garda search was launched 24 hours later.

A day later an anonymous call was made to Mountjoy Garda station saying that the two men had been shot and dumped in a field.

On Thursday, April 24, the car that the men travelled to Cavan in was discovered near Lough Owel on the N4 near Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Detectives suspect it was dumped here to draw attention away from Co Cavan.

Armed robber Mr Keegan and Mr O’Connor were known to gardai but not considered major criminals.

Gardai have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Detectives have urged the boating community on Lough Sheelin or anyone who may have been on the water between April 22 and May 26 to call Kells Garda station on 046 9280820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any station.